Ephedra distachya (Sea Grape)

General Information

The Sea Grape is a plant indigenous to multiple continents across Southern Europe in places like France and Spain to central Asia in countries like Ukraine and Iran. This plant can be found in arid (dry) climates such as mountainous regions to deserts and beaches and is considered a dwarf shrub. Sea Grapes flower form in April to July and sprout fruits (grapes) form in September to October. There are discrepancies as to whether the plants found in varying regions are to be considered the same species, however regardless most share similar appearances.

They are dioecious (can be distinguished from male and female plants) therefore are considered to not be self-fertile. In addition to this, they thrive in sunny conditions and are able to tolerate droughts. Key ways to identify the Sea Grape are when it blooms it has clear buds that can be colored red, yellow or even green depending on the sex of the plant. The Sea Grape is also commonly fibrous or branching, therefore, can and will have multiple buds on one stem.

Traditional Use

Traditionally the Sea Grape has been used by natives for their fruit for human consumption, and for their stems for medicinal benefits. The stems are used to aide in such ailments as asthma, cold and flu symptoms and other respiratory issues. It is also commonly found in weight loss supplements and is taken to increase athletic performances in modern society. This is due to medicinal alkaloids (specifically ephedrine) which are a decongestant and bronchodilator that relieves respiratory distress through opening airways in the lungs and nasal cavities, as well as dilating blood vessels to better blood flow. Suggestions indicate that one should consult a doctor before using Sea Grapes to relieve respiratory issues because it may cause complications with preexisting medications or conditions. It is not certain whether or not the Sea Grape has one clear native culture that put the grapes and stems to use. However, there is current research that is attempting to find these answers.

Current Research

There are a variety of recent journal articles that look at the Sea Grape, its origins and its uses in modern and traditional medicine.

This first article takes a look at fossils of various subspecies of Sea Grapes to try and figure out where exactly the plant originated. This was done by analyzing their general morphology and relating this back to other plants in various time eras. The results from this study indicate that the various Sea Grapes are decedents of early Cretaceous flora, and may even date as far back as the Mesozoic era. http://www.pnas.org/content/101/47/16571.full

In the second article distinguishes the levels of various alkaloids in Sea Grapes providing information on how they vary geographically. Through spectrophotometry, this study supports the fact that Sea Grapes have multiple subspecies, and that they require different nutrient levels in order to grow. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594322/